Pipe pushing and pulling machine.



H. A. BROWN.

PIPE PUSHING AND PULLING MACHINE.

nPPLjc/mon mfp Auml. 1916.

Patented Dec. '12,

HORACE-A. BROWN, OF OTTUMWA,

IOWA.

PIPE PUSHING AND PULLING MACHINE.

Application led August 8, 1916.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, HORACE A. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of ittumwa, in the county of Wapello and State of Iowa, have invented an Improvement in Pipe Pushing and Pulling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in pushing and pulling machines, and has for its object to provide a machine of the character specified, by means of which pipes as, for instance, gas and water pipes, telephone conduits and the like may be pushed through the g'round or pulled therefrom, and wherein means is provided in connection with the machine for guiding` the pipe and holding it in proper position.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section.- Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section through the clamping ring. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a modified form of returning spring.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a supporting frame consisting of spaced parallel anchor plates 1 and 2, which are connected by angle plates 3, the said angle plates being spaced inwardly from the ends of the anchor plates. The said ends of the anchor plates have openings for receiving pins or stakes 4, by means of which the frame may be anchored to the ground. These angle plates are arranged with their vertical portions inward and parallel, and an operating lever 5 is connected to the said vertical portions of the angle plates at the end adjacent to the anchor plate 2 by means of brace arms 6, the said arms being secured at one end to the handle and being pivoted at the other end to the vertical portions of the angle plates. At the end adjacent to the anchor plate 1 a lever 7 is supported, by means of braces 8, the saidbraces being pivoted to the lever 7 at one end and to one of the angle plates at the other end, and the lever is mounted to rock on the braces.

The braces are in turn braced against the angle plates by inclined braces 9, each of the said braces being connected at one end to the pivotal connection of the lever and at the other to the angle plate. A link 10 connects the upper end of the lever 7 with the lower end of the lever 5, in suoli manner that when Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916. Serial No. 113,703.

the lever 5 is swung in either direction the lever 7 will be swung therewith.

The clamping mechanism for engaging the pipe 1l is connected to the lower end of the lever 7 by means of a link 12, the said link being pivoted at one end to the lower end of the lever and at the other to the clamping mechanism. The said mechanism comprises a C or yoke-shaped member, consisting of a body 13 and arms 14, the upper arm 14 having a pair of upstanding lugs 15, between which the adjacent end of the link 12 is pivotally mounted. This C-shaped clamping member is of some width, and the body of the member is provided at each face with an eye 16.

It will be evident from the description that when the lever 5 is rocked, the lever 7 will be rocked, to move the link 1,2 and the C-shaped member longitudinally of the pipe. A coil spring 17 is connected to that eye 1G of the clamping member adjacent to the anchor' plate 2, and this spring acts normally to swing the gripping or clamping device 13-14 with its aXis inclined with respect to the pipe. When the lever 5 is swung into the dotted line position of Fig. 2, the clamping mechanism will be moved loosely over the pipe toward the anchor plate 2, while when the lever is moved in the opposite direction the spring tending to incline the clamping member causes the opposite edges thereof to grip the pipe, thus constraining the pipe to move with the clamping device, as shown in Fig. 4.

The device may also be used to pull pipe out of the ground, that is, it may be reversed to move the pipe in the opposite direction to that shown in Fig. 2. In order to reverse the movement of the pipe, the spring 17 is connected with the eye 16 at the left of the clamp, and to the guide at the left end of the device. It will be understood that now the clamp 13 will be held in a position reverse to that of Fig. 2, that is, inclined in the opposite direction, and it will also be obvious that it will clamp the pipe as the clamp moves to the right and release the pipe as the clamp moves to the left.

Means is also provided for guiding the pipe and for insuring that it will pass straight into the ground. One of the said means is arranged at each end of the frame, and each of the said means consists of a pair of guide plates 18, secured to the anchor plates and to the angle plates 3 on the inner side of the said angle plates. Each of these guide plates has its inner edge `peveled, and each has a lateral inwardly extending flange 19, provided with a vertical series of openings, registering with the openings of the flange of the other plate of the pair, and the openings are adapted to receive holding pins 20. The pipe lies on the anchor plates between the beveled edges of the guide plates, which prevent lateral f movement of the pipe at each end, and the through which tion of the clamp, 1 reverse the yarrangement rods 2O prevent upward movement.

In operation, the device is arranged as shown in Figs. l and 2, with the end of the pipe 1l adjacent to the bank indicated at 2l the pipe is to be forced. Working the lever 5 backward and forward when the pipe has been placed on the frame, will cause the end thereof to enter the ground, and to be forced through the ground into the proper position. Whenever the clamping device 13-1t is moved toward the plate 2, the said device slips idly over the pipe, while when it moves in the opposite direction it grips the pipe and carries the same therewith.

Means is also provided for varying the leverage. It will be noted that the upper end of the lever 7 is longer than the lower end, and a series of openings is provided in the said upper end, with any one of which the bolt Q2, which connects the link 10 with the lever 7, may be engaged. rlhe fart-her this bolt 2.2 is from the center from which the lever 7 swings, the greater will be the power obtained. s

f ln the embodiment of the invention shown Vvin Fig. 5,*a clamp indicated generally at 25 40.

is provided, ca 1ried by a link 27. Some space is provided beneath the lower edge of the link and the upper surface of the 'clamping ring, and within this space is arranged a plate spring 28. The spring is substantially V-shaped and one end is secured to the clamping ring by means of screws 29 or the like. rlhe other end enthe lower edge of the link and it will be obvious that the spring tends to hold the clamping ring in an inclined position, as seen in Fig. 5. In order to reverse the acit is only necessary to n of the spring.

l claim:

l. A machine of the character specified, comprising a frame having means for pertermediate the ends of the lever,

mitting it to be anchored to the ground, central alined guides on the frame for holding the pipe in place, each pair of guiding means consisting of upstanding plates at the ends of the frame spaced apart from each other and having their adjacent side walls beveled, each plate having a lateral inwardly extending flange, and said flanges having registering openings, a rod engaging the openings, and means mounted on the frame formoving the pipe longitudinally thereof.

2. A machine of the character specified,

comprising a frame having guides for the pipe and means for preventing upward movement thereof, and means for moving the pipe in either direction, such means comprising a C-shaped clamping member, a lever pivotally supported by the frame intermediate the ends of the lever, a link connecting the lower end of the lever with the top of the clamping member, means for vibrating the said lever and connected with the top thereof, and a coil spring arranged between the frame and the clamping member, said member having eyes at the opposite faces thereof for engagement by the spring.

3. A machine of the character specified comprising a frame having guides for the pipe and means for preventing upward movement thereof, means for moving the pipe in either direction, such means comprising a C-shaped clamping member, a lever pivotally supported by the frame iua link connecting the lower end of the lever with the top of the clamping member, means for vi brating the lever, and a spring arranged beneath the clamp and the link and revcrsible for normally holding the clamp in inclined position.

A machine of the character specified. comprising a frame having guides for the pipe, and means for preventing upward movement thereof, means for moving the pipe in either direction, such means com prising a C-shaped clamping member adapted to encircle the pipe, a lever pivotally supported by the frame, a link connecting the lever with the top of the clamping member, means for vibrating the lever, and a spring normally holding the clamp in inclined position.

HORACE A. BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

